Method and apparatus for programmed shaft synchronization
AssigneeAMF Incorporated
InventorsJack Wireman, Richard E. Kazares
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for producing an elastomeric extrudate having a constant cross section area. The extrudate is shaped in to a ribbon through a roller die and applied to a tire surface mounted on a rotating spindle. Digital electronic circuitry is employed to provide precise shaft synchronization at a pre-selected rotational velocity ratio between the rotating shafts. The synchronization assures repeatable velocity synchronization between the source of elastomeric material and a take-up device at the axis of rotation of the two components. The elastomeric material is extruded in a manner permitting control over the wrap operation and the amount of elastomeric material employed for a given cycle.
Claims6
An apparatus for producing an elastomeric extrudate having a constant cross-sectional area, said extrudate being formed into a shaped ribbon by passage through a ribbon forming structure disposed downstream from an extrusion device, said extrudate being applied to a tire substrate surface disposed about a rotatable spindle for rotating a tire thereon, said apparatus being adapted to continuously feed extrudate into said ribbon forming structure having a rotational rate of travel in direct relationship to the rotational rate of travel of the tire substrate surface, and including:
- linkage means for electrically linking said forming structure to said rotatable spindle, said linkage means being defined by a first optical encoding means diposed on the axis of rotation of said ribbon forming structure;
- said first optical encoding means being disposed on said forming structure, for transmitting an electrical output signal in response to rotational increments of said forming structure, and in direct relation to the velocity of said advancing ribbon;
- ratio programmer means in electrical circuit relation to said first encoding means, for receiving said output signal from said first encoding means in response to rotational increments of said shaping structure and for producing an output signal equal to a predetermined ratio of said first optical encoding means output signal;
- a second optical encoder disposed on said rotatable spindle;
- means for accumulating the difference between the output of said second optical encoder and the output of said ratio programmer to produce an accumulated output signal;
- and means responsive to said accumulated output signal for providing an electrical signal for controlling the rotational velocity of said rotatable spindle.
A method of elastomeric material deposition upon a tire substrate including the steps of:
- introducing a rubber tread material into an extruder;
- feeding the extrudate into a rotating rubber ribbon shaping structure disposed in proximity to a tire substrate to be treated;
- placing the shaped rubber ribbon on said tire substrate disposed upon a rotating spindle;
- monitoring rotational increments of said rotating rubber ribbon shaping structure to produce a first electrical signal indicative of said rotational increments;
- monitoring rotational increments of said tire spindle to produce a second electrical signal indicative of said rotational increments;
- comparing said first and second output signals and accumulating the difference therebetween as a control signal;
- and transmitting said control signal to a motor control means for adjusting the relative rotational velocity of said tire spindle and said rotating rubber ribbon shaping structure.
Apparatus for applying tread material to a tire carcass, comprising:
- roller die means for producing a ribbon of tread material;
- means for rotating said roller die means;
- means for guiding said ribbon onto said carcass while said carcass is rotated;
- and
- means, responsive to rotational increments of said roller die means, for rotating said carcass by rotational increments which are in a predetermined ratio with said rotational increments of said roller die means to synchronize the rotation of said carcass with the rotation of said roller die means without regard to the physical characteristics of said ribbon.
A method for applying tread material to a tire carcass, comprising the step of:
- rotating a roller die to form a ribbon of tread material;
- rotating said carcass in rotational increments which are in a predetermined ratio with the rotational increments of said roller die to synchronize the rotation of said carcass with the rotation of said roller die without regard to the physical characteristics of said ribbon;
- and
- guiding said ribbon onto said carcass while said carcass is rotated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.